WVU catcher Grant Sauve swings at the ball, during the first game of the weekend against Texas Tech, on Saturday. Photo by David Pennock

MORGANTOWN — Unsettled weather and an unsettling injury to pitcher Gavin Van Kempen dampened WVU’s baseball weekend at Kendrick Family Field, but still didn’t deter the Mountaineers from winning two of three conference games played against Texas Tech.

The scheduled Friday night opener against the Red Raiders was rained out, when a storm hit just before the game was set to begin.

On Saturday, a doubleheader was staged with the teams splitting the games.

The Red Raiders claimed a 6-4 win in the opener, dealing pitcher Griffin Kirn (4-1) his first loss of the team’s stellar season.

The Mountaineers actually led, 3-1, after three innings and got home runs from both Skylar King and Grant Hussey. Hussey had a three-hit game and Sam White had a pair of doubles.

WVU first baseman Grant Hussey runs to home plate, after batting a home run during the first game against Texas Tech on Saturday. Photo by David Pennock

Kirn went 6.2 innings, permitted six hits, five runs (four of which were earned) and struck out eight.

In West Virginia’s 3-2 win in the nightcap, starting pitcher Gavin Van Kempen was injured and had to be replaced by Reese Bassinger, who pitched the last seven innings and improved his record to 6-0, with the team’s one-run win.

A vocal crowd of 3,848 looked on, as the Mountaineers evened the series at one game each.

Sunday’s finale featured another memorable pitching performance from Jack Kartsonas, now 6-1 after his seven-inning start in the series-clinching, 5-0, WVU win.

Kartsonas’ seven innings showed him allowing five hits, fanning seven and not walking any.

WVU pitcher Griffin Kirn went 6.2 innings, permitted six hits, five runs (four of which were earned) and struck out eight, during the first game against Texas Tech on Saturday. Photo by David Pennock

Carson Estridge completed the shutout with two innings of three-hit work.

Two multiple-run innings provided Kartsonas with enough offense. Kyle West homered and had two RBIs and Brodie Kresser also drove in two runs.

West Virginia had five doubles in taming the Red Raiders and winning the series two games to one.

With the four-day Big 12 tournament on the horizon, the first-place Mountaineers moved their conference record to 18-4. Arizona State has moved into second place with a 16-8 mark, followed by Kansas (15-9), Arizona (15-9) and Texas Christian (15-9). West Virginia’s next conference opponent Kansas State is 14-10 and 28-20 overall.

The Mountaineers complete the regular season portion of their schedule at Kendrick Family Park against Kansas on May 15-17 and then travel to the league’s tournament in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field on May 21-24.

Hedgesville native Kyle West catches the ball, during the first game over the weekend between Texas Tech and West Virginia University. Photo by David Pennock